Help with a Fluval 307 filter

[Badjester1]

Hi, I'm just wanting some advice around a Fluval 307 and what pads etc to use in it. As standard it came with carbon bags and phosphate remover pads. I'll be looking at doing a planted tank (nothing too crazy.) From having a planted tank years ago I remember that I obviously don't want to be using phosphate remover (especially since I'll likely be feeding with TNC Lite which has no phosphates.) Plus I like to use easy carbo (no I'm not looking to go full Co2 this time.) So I was assuming the carbon bags would be a no go with that? Can anyone suggest what the best set up inside the filter would be if removing the carbon and phosphate remover? TIA

 

[Uberhoust]

I just got a 407 and I am planning on not using any of the carbon, nor the phosphate scrubber pads. I will be filling all the trays, except the bottom one, with the ceramic balls, tubes, rings, etc that I use in my other filters to encourage bacteria growth. The bottom level I will leave with the foam and polishing pads, at least initially (though I think the bottom ones are carbon charged I will use them long after the carbon has lost its absorption capacity). The sponge side looks like it has more capacity (2x) than the big Aquaclear that I am currently using. I will be experimenting with the outflow on the opposite side of the tank as opposed to the intake. I hope they are quieter than the Aquaclear, because that was a major negotiating point with my wife. I had an old 300 series fluvial filter in the past and I set it up like I am going to setup the new filter except I had one tray with crushed shell for maintaining hardness when I had a lot of yellow labs, and other African cichlids.

 

[Badjester1]

I just got a 407 and I am planning on not using any of the carbon, nor the phosphate scrubber pads. I will be filling all the trays, except the bottom one, with the ceramic balls, tubes, rings, etc that I use in my other filters to encourage bacteria growth. The bottom level I will leave with the foam and polishing pads, at least initially (though I think the bottom ones are carbon charged I will use them long after the carbon has lost its absorption capacity). The sponge side looks like it has more capacity (2x) than the big Aquaclear that I am currently using. I will be experimenting with the outflow on the opposite side of the tank as opposed to the intake. I hope they are quieter than the Aquaclear, because that was a major negotiating point with my wife. I had an old 300 series fluvial filter in the past and I set it up like I am going to setup the new filter except I had one tray with crushed shell for maintaining hardness when I had a lot of yellow labs, and other African cichlids.

I was wondering if filter floss would be the best option to replace the carbon with. So many options when I look at Fluval's website

 

[Uberhoust]

I don't know about your tank but I have only used filter floss on a few occasions, when I change the substrate and when I have an issue like a algae bloom, I haven't found floss necessary to keep the water clear. In the older days with the steel frame tanks we would always arrange the filter with carbon, and floss. Now I find the sponge, bio ball media (don't care what brand) combination works well. I don't replace anything just rinse them out from time to time so its cheaper that way too (mind you, one can buy a lot of floss for the price of a Fluval filter).

There is no reason you couldn't use floss in one of the trays, the main decision would be what tray to put it in. I personally wouldn't use it unless I needed to.

 

[Jan Cavalieri]

OH and just an FYI - I have 307 and a 407. No issues with the 307 but constant leaking coming from the side of the lower half of the filter. I just think there is a small crack in the body of the filter but the Fluval people sure don't. They are just so convinced it's either the O-Ring or the "faucet" handles - you know, the pieces where the hose goes in - so they sent us 2 new once of those and a new o-ring, I bought the correct type of silicone to make the o-ring all nice and greasy and provide a good seal. I suggested some plumbers tape under the O ring but they ignored my idea. Anyway - both these locations are 6-12 inches further than where the leak is coming from - I guess I can see how under pressure a leak could spring up elsewhere but we'll see. It's leaked from day one.

The GOOD news is Fluval is very responsive to complaints about their products. These filers have a 3 year warranty on them so mark on them somewhere when/where you purchased them. That is a great warranty.

 

[Badjester1]

OH and just an FYI - I have 307 and a 407. No issues with the 307 but constant leaking coming from the side of the lower half of the filter. I just think there is a small crack in the body of the filter but the Fluval people sure don't. They are just so convinced it's either the O-Ring or the "faucet" handles - you know, the pieces where the hose goes in - so they sent us 2 new once of those and a new o-ring, I bought the correct type of silicone to make the o-ring all nice and greasy and provide a good seal. I suggested some plumbers tape under the O ring but they ignored my idea. Anyway - both these locations are 6-12 inches further than where the leak is coming from - I guess I can see how under pressure a leak could spring up elsewhere but we'll see. It's leaked from day one.

The GOOD news is Fluval is very responsive to complaints about their products. These filers have a 3 year warranty on them so mark on them somewhere when/where you purchased them. That is a great warranty.

I think when I registered my warranty they offered another two years making it five in total (here in the UK.) I did my first filter maintenance last night just to clean out the sediment from initially putting the sand in the tank. I was very pleased with how easy it was and how easy it all went back together. I actually bought a water leak sensor to give me at least a little bit peace of mind. It will alert by noise/mobile phone notifications if it detects either a water leak or drop in the tank. I just hope it NEVER goes off lol.

 

[Uberhoust]

Just setup my 407 a couple of days ago. Put the main O ring in the wrong location. Worked good enough to get the siphon going but not good enough to prevent water from shooting out the side of the canister. Decided to read the instructions and found the right location for the O ring. My black neons love the extra current, the angels not so much. So far the filter seems to produce about half the noise that the Aquaclear produces. I will remove the Aquaclear after I get the Fluval colonized.

So far I like the filter but just like @Badjester1 I am a bit concerted about the possibility of the cannister rapidly draining my tank if a malfunction occurs.

Starting from the bottom of the stack in the filter I have.
1. Bottom Tray, black foam and polishing pads that came with the unit
2. Bacterial substrate (from old filter)
3. Bacterial substrate (New)
4. Bacterial substrate (New)

 

[Badjester1]

Just setup my 407 a couple of days ago. Put the main O ring in the wrong location. Worked good enough to get the siphon going but not good enough to prevent water from shooting out the side of the canister. Decided to read the instructions and found the right location for the O ring. My black neons love the extra current, the angels not so much. So far the filter seems to produce about half the noise that the Aquaclear produces. I will remove the Aquaclear after I get the Fluval colonized.

So far I like the filter but just like @Badjester1 I am a bit concerted about the possibility of the cannister rapidly draining my tank if a malfunction occurs.

Starting from the bottom of the stack in the filter I have.
1. Bottom Tray, black foam and polishing pads that came with the unit
2. Bacterial substrate (from old filter)
3. Bacterial substrate (New)
4. Bacterial substrate (New)

I've been asking around on communities a lot about whether these filters ever fail. I'd say 99% of people who say they've had a flood have admitted to being their fault. The vast majority being the O ring not being fitted correctly or the unit correctly maintained. I'm yet to find anyone who's said they've had a major flood and it's been entirely the unit to blame (apart from the post about leaking above.) Not saying it doesn't happen but appears to be pretty rare. Which I'd imagine as Fluval (or any other company) would be in some serious trouble if their products were flooding homes. I'm a worrier and as it's my first external filter I'm just ensuring I'm doing everything correctly. Have you tried turning the flow down a bit for your angels? I'll eventually be upgrading to the 407 I think but as my tank is 240 litres I'll need to turn the flow down from full.